BARRON — Hours after his arrest, Jake T. Patterson confessed to blasting his way into Jayme Closs’ Barron home, executing her parents and kidnapping her.

But conspicuously absent from the narrative Barron County authorities provided in a 12-page criminal complaint last week: details of what happened in the three months Patterson held the 13-year-old girl captive two counties to the north.

Prosecutors in Douglas County could file more charges against Patterson for various other crimes: among them, false imprisonment or any sort of assault committed against Jayme on his wooded Gordon property while she was missing for 88 days, legal experts said. For instance, Jayme told authorities Patterson once hit her with an object, according to the court documents in Barron.

Jake T. Patterson, right, appears with his lawyer during a Barron County Circuit Court hearing via a video link from jail.

KSTP-TV

But it will be a sensitive decision, especially in a high-profile case where the victim’s name and photo appeared on billboards, trucks, social media and international news as part of a massive search — and where a trial would be highly publicized and possibly televised.

While seeking the truth, prosecutors will balance several other objectives, including safeguarding the public, getting the proper punishment for the perpetrator and protecting the victim from further harm through her possible court testimony.

While prosecutors may want to pile on charges against Patterson in an attempt to ensure the 21-year-old stays behind bars until he dies, “it may very well be that, out of concern for (Jayme’s) emotional and psychological well-being, that they want to limit her experience in a courtroom to the most serious charges involving homicide and the original kidnapping,” said Daniel Blinka, a Marquette University law professor who formerly prosecuted sensitive crimes. “It’s not like they need additional charges to emphasize the seriousness … of this offense.”

The first charges against Patterson in the initial complaint — two counts of first-degree intentional homicide — each call for a sentence of life imprisonment. Additional kidnapping and armed burglary charges call for up to 40 and 15 years of combined prison time and extended supervision, respectively.

But in Wisconsin, if Patterson is found guilty, a judge must determine what life in prison actually means.

It could mean Patterson never gets out, or it could mean he’s eligible for release under extended supervision at some point — as soon as 20 years for an intentional homicide count, though experts said that would be highly unlikely in this case.

At sentencing, judges make their determinations based on factors such as the seriousness of the crime, the safety of the community and the defendant’s criminal history and rehabilitative potential. The judge decides whether sentences run consecutively or concurrently.

Prosecutors aiming for a maximum sentence “typically would want to throw everything they could” at a defendant like Patterson, said Keith Findley, a former defense attorney who is now a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison. But in such a high-profile case, he said, “they will have to try to figure out how to weigh any additional harm that may be done to this child.”

Prosecutors aren’t legally compelled to charge every crime, experts said. Those in a different jurisdiction can’t charge a defendant for substantially the same crime, because that would violate the Constitution’s double jeopardy clause. So any charges in Douglas County would have to be distinct from those in Barron, experts said.

Reviewing reports

Patterson is due to return to Barron County Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6. There, a judge will determine whether there is probable cause that Patterson committed a felony in order to keep him for trial. He is not expected to enter a plea.

Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf said at a news conference last week that he anticipated having more information on additional charges before then.

“My office is still in the process of reviewing the reports on the case to determine whether or not there are any additional charges that would be filed in Douglas County,” he said.

Experts said Fruehauf and his colleagues are not under intense time pressure, however. They could potentially wait to see how the charges in Barron County are resolved before deciding whether more charges against Patterson are necessary.

Similarly, Barron County prosecutors could amend charges against Patterson, too. They are likely still sifting through evidence, experts said.

Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright said after the charges were filed that it is “extremely important” for prosecutors to get a conviction in the case.

“We have two parents of a 13-year-old who are deceased. We have a 13-year-old who was abducted for 88 days against her will, forcibly,” he said. “It doesn’t get any more serious than that. And I assure you that these prosecutors here, all of us, want justice for both James and Denise (Closs) and for Jayme.”

The 88 days Jayme spent in Patterson’s house might not have been detailed in the initial charges, Findley said, because authorities may still be trying to determine what happened there.

“This sounds like very powerful evidence, pretty compelling, but remember, it’s preliminary,” said Findley, who co-founded the Wisconsin Innocence Project. “This is one version of events, this is one side of the story. I don’t know if there’s a second side. … (Patterson) currently enjoys a presumption of innocence.”

Jayme Closs honored by Legislature

Kidnapping victim Jayme Closs, second from left, appears with her family and supporters to receive a "hometown hero" award Wednesday from the state Assembly. Closs escaped in January after her parents were killed and she was held captive for three months in a remote cabin.

SCOTT BAUER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Closs family members react after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months, during a hearing at the Barron County Justice Center on March 27.

T'xer Zhon Kha, Post-Crescent

Wisconsin Killings-Kidnapping

Patrick Patterson, right, and his daughter, Katie, arrive for the arraignment hearing of his son, Jake Patterson, on March 27 at the Barron County Justice Center in Barron.

MARK HOFFMAN, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Jake Patterson appears for a hearing at the Barron County Justice Center on March 27. Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER, STAR TRIBUNE

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Jake Patterson appears for a hearing at the Barron County Justice Center on March 27 in Barron. Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

T'xer Zhon Kha, Appleton Post-Crescent

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

A Closs family member react as she leaves the courtroom after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

T'xer Zhon Kha, Post-Crescent

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Closs family members leave the courtroom after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme Closs and killing her parents.

Wisconsin Killings-Kidnapping

Lynn Closs leaves courtroom

Lynn Closs, aunt of Jayme Closs, leaves the courtroom March 27 after Jake Patterson pleaded guilty to kidnapping 13-year-old Jayme, killing her parents and holding her captive in a remote cabin for three months.

MARK HOFFMAN, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

Elizabeth Smart speaks in Barron

Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped and held hostage at the age of 14 for nine months in 2002, speaks March 15 in the aftermath of the abduction of local teen Jayme Closs last October and the killing of Jayme's parents, at a town hall forum at Barron High School in Barron. She gave local residents tips on how to deal with the aftermath.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Elizabeth Smart speaks in Barron

Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped and held hostage at the age of 14 for nine months in 2002, speaks on the aftermath of the abduction of local teen Jayme Closs last October and the killing of Jayme's parents, at a town hall forum Friday at Barron High School.

RENEE JONES SCHNEIDER, STAR TRIBUNE

Wisconsin Killings Kidnapping

Jake Patterson appears for his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Barron County Circuit Court. Patterson is accused of killing James and Denise Closs on Oct. 15 and kidnapping their daughter, Jayme Closs, from their Barron home. Jayme escaped on Jan. 10, after 88 days.

Cabin where Jayme Closs was held

The cabin in the town Gordon where authorities say 13-year-old Jayme Closs was held by Jake Thomas Patterson is surrounded by law enforcement vehicles Saturday.

AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald holds up the booking photo of Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, during a news conference Friday in Barron. Jayme, a 13-year-old girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed, was found alive in the rural town of Gordon, about 60 miles north of her home in Barron. Investigators believe Patterson, who was taken into custody shortly after Closs was found, killed her parents because he wanted to abduct her.

JEAN PIERI, PIONEER PRESS

Jake Thomas Patterson

Patterson

BARRON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

Two Dead-Child Missing

The sign outside Barron City Hall on Friday welcomes Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old northwestern Wisconsin girl who had been missing since her parents were killed in October. Closs was found alive Thursday in the rural town of Gordon, about 60 miles north of her home.

AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference Friday in Barron regarding the arrest of Jake Thomas Patterson, who allegedly kidnapped Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old girl who went missing in October after her parents were killed.

AARON LAVINSKY, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Kristin Kasinskas, left, husband, Peter, and Jeanne Nutter and her dog Henry head back to their homes after speaking with the media Friday in Gordon. Kristin Kasinskas called 911 on Thursday to report that Jayme Closs, 13, had been found after Nutter, who was out walking her dog, encountered her and brought her to Kasinskas' house. Closs had been missing since her parents were killed in October.

RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

Kristin Kasinskas and her husband, Peter, who live on South Eau Claire Acres Circle, speak with the media Friday in Gordon. Kristin Kasinskas called 911 on Thursday to report that Jayme Closs had been found after another neighbor encountered her and brought her to the Kasinskas house.

RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead Child Missing

A thank you sign is displayed Friday after Barron teenager Jayme Closs was found alive.

Jeff Baenen

Two Dead Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a news conference Friday after Jayme Closs, 13, was found alive after being missing for nearly three months.

Aaron Lavinsky

Two Dead Child Missing

A "Tree of Hope" for teenager Jayme Closs is seen outside Riverview Middle School in Barron on Friday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers are given directions Tuesday near Barron before searching for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who went missing Oct. 15 when her parents were found fatally shot at their home. The search for Closs was expanded Tuesday.

EVAN FROST, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers cross a creek and barbed wire near Barron on Tuesday on their way to a ground search for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home. The search for Closs was expanded Tuesday, with as many as 2,000 volunteers expected to take part in a search of the area.

JEFF BAENEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers line up along Highway 25 just north of Barron Tuesday to help in the search for Jayme Closs, a missing teenage Wisconsin girl whose parents were killed in the family's home. Jayme has been missing since Oct. 15, when deputies responding to a 911 call found that someone had broken into the family's home in Barron and gunned down James and Denise Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Hundreds of volunteers gather Tuesday in Barron to assist in the search for Jayme Closs, a missing teenage Wisconsin girl whose parents were killed in the family's home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Greg Niemuth of Eau Claire searches a wooded area Tuesday north of Barron for missing 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

A volunteer uses a stick to brush away dense leaf cover in woods near Barron on Tuesday while searching for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who went missing Oct. 15 when her parents were found fatally shot at their home.

EVAN FROST, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

Search expands for missing girl

Louie Lauderdale of Lake Geneva searches near a cornfield along 15th Avenue near Highway 25 just north of Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers gather at a cornfield along 15th Avenue near Highway 25 just north of Barron on Tuesday as they search for 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Steven Fowler of Luck and his dog Cheeka search a cornfield along 15th Avenue near Highway 25 just north of Barron on Tuesday as they search for Jayme Closs.

Jerry Holt

Search expands for missing girl

Steven Fowler of Luck and his dog Cheeka search a cornfield north of Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteers search a field along north of Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who was discovered missing Oct. 15 after her parents were found fatally shot at their home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Search expands for missing girl

Volunteer Tim Collins of Shoreview, Minn., and his dog Gretchen search near Barron on Tuesday for 13-year-old Jayme Closs.

EVAN FROST, MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO

Search expands for missing girl

A sign is seen Tuesday in the small town of Barron, where 13-year-old Jayme Closs' parents were found shot to death at their home on Oct. 15. Searchers were looking Tuesday for the girl.

JEFF BAENEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search expands for missing girl

A Barron County sheriff's vehicle sits Tuesday outside the home where James Closs and Denise Closs were found fatally shot on Oct. 15. A search was being organized to find the couple's missing 13-year-old daughter, Jayme.

JEFF BAENEN, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two Dead-Child Missing

Barron County sheriff's deputies remained at the scene of the home where 13-year-old Jayme Closs lived with her parents, James and Denise, on Oct. 17, 2018, in Barron. Investigators have been searching for 13-year-old Jayme Closs since deputies responding to a 911 call early Monday found her parents dead in their home.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Two parents found dead; child still missing

A group of volunteers on Thursday search the ditches along Highway 8 in Barron, near the home where missing 13-year-old Jayme Closs lived with her parents, who were found dead early Monday.

JERRY HOLT, STAR TRIBUNE

Two Dead-Child Missing

Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald speaks during a press conference Wednesday about 13-year-old Jayme Closs who has been missing since her parents were found dead in their home in Barron early Monday.

More information

Defense attorneys for the man accused of kidnapping a Wisconsin teenager and killing her parents acknowledged Wednesday that they're starting the case at a disadvantage after their client gave detectives a detailed confession and said they're not sure he can get a fair trial in the state.